This Saturday, he is expected in Pirou, a small town in Manche known for its whelk fair. What reception will Gabriel Attal have among the fishermen? After his seafood tasting, the French Prime Minister will visit a market garden, where he will be able to gauge the popularity of his government’s latest measures in favor of farmers.
After a first burst of announcements in January while agriculture shouted its anger throughout France, Gabriel Attal unveiled “additional measures” this Saturday in the hope of ending this stormy episode. The country was shaken by numerous road blockages during a massive mobilization of farmers. But what do these new measures contain? 20 minutes sums you up.
Fewer constraints on pesticides
Among the strong choices, we can cite the final version of the Ecophyto plan aimed at reducing the use of pesticides. Faced with the revolt of the FNSEA, the majority union, a “new strategy” had been considered. In short, a reduction in the constraints weighing on the use of pesticides. The government wants to “simplify” it and base it “on a European indicator” and not just a French one. This change in method is denounced by several NGOs who criticize the European indicator for less clearly differentiating the harmfulness of pesticides.
Aid for those most affected
To try to help the most fragile farms, Gabriel Attal also promises “new aid for farm cash flow”. The public investment bank BPI France will provide new financing of at least 100 million euros in the form of personal cash loans (up to 75,000 euros) or guarantees for loans from private banks.
Controversial but accelerated projects
The government is also committed to accelerating water storage or irrigation projects which are so debated in the departments most affected by drought. One hundred projects are currently under consideration. The departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude and Hérault, the most affected by weather crises, will benefit from specific support. A plan with 50 million euros for projects to adapt to climate change and develop local sectors is under construction.
A pension reform confirmed
Finally, the government has confirmed that the agricultural pension reform, the technical implementation of which was debated, will apply in 2026. The calculation method will ultimately be based on the 25 best years of career. In a joint press release, the FNSEA and the JA assured that they would monitor the implementation of these measures with “extreme vigilance”. “The third phase of monitoring the concrete implementation of each of the measures now opens,” they said.